iMuslim.tv

Hubb (Love)

// July 14th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Photos

For my best friend, SimSim.

Drawn using a Wacom Bamboo Pen in Adobe Illustrator CS5.

Macro Gone Mad

// May 9th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Photos

I’ve gone a little ‘macro’ nuts, lately. I dig how the shallow depth of field makes the most mundane of things look, like, totally awesome, masha’Allah.

Btw, I’ve realized just how lazy I’ve become wrt my camera. When I bought my first digicam way back in 2002 (a Minolta summit or other), I was so excited by my shiny new purchase, I insisted on fiddling with every manual setting available. These days, I normally shoot on auto-mode. It works out okay in well-lit environments, but the picture quality becomes extremely naff (I mean, more so than I’d expect) in anything less than daylight. I keep reminding myself that I need to figure out the best settings for indoors – especially as I hate using the flash – but bah… laziness.

Then, the other day, I lent my Canon to another sister from the ISoc, and within a few minutes she’d taught me five new things about the camera, like how to control the flash intensity (I had no idea I could do that), and change the aspect ratio to widescreen (though I’ll probably stick to doing that during post-processing). This is one of the few times in my life that I’ve been outgeeked by a fellow Muslimah! I am totally going to leech off of her knowledge, insha’Allah. In a good way.

In other news, the first meeting of the Sisters Film Club went well, masha’Allah, in spite of clashes with the Muslim Medics AGM, and general exam stress all round. We have our sights on the first project, which should be ready for June, insha’Allah. More details as they become declassified for public release.

Skating at the Museum on Eid-ul-Adha 1430

// November 27th, 2009 // 7 Comments » // Photos

I continued my Eiding-in-the-park tradition this morning, alhamdulillah. I was stood behind the masallah, and had a great view of the jamaat. But I decided against taking any photos. It felt like I’d be breaking a trust. Plus, sometimes you just need to live the moment, rather than be distracted by your fervent attempts to capture it.

The good news is, on my way home from uni this afternoon, I discovered my camera in my coat pocket. Thus I was finally able to capture some shots of the Natural History Museum ice rink, which I’ve been eager to do ever since it was set up a few weeks ago.

The last shot is my favourite… I think it would make a nice postcard. Btw, am I alone in thinking ice skating is the most romantic of the winter sports? All that huddling, cuddling and giggling… Sigh.

Happy Eid, everybody!

Eid = Mendhi Time

// September 26th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Photos

Mendhi is the Hindi word for ‘henna’. I am quite bad at applying it to myself, but I still have a go anyway, usually around Eid time, like tonight. Here is an example of what is known in the industry as, “the squiggly finger”. Okay, maybe not…

The dried henna has now been removed; we’ll see how dark it turns out, insha’Allah. I don’t usually do anything special, like apply henna oil. Mainly because my design is so childish, that I’d like it to wear out as quickly as possible!

Is the Eid-Mendhi association an S.E.Asian thing, or do Arab/ African/ etc sisters apply it at this time of year too?

The Lake District

// July 16th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Photos

Here are some photos from my recent trip to the Lake District.

The following is my personal favourite; click to enlarge.

Jazakallah khair to brother Mohammed for inviting me to Cumbria, and granting my father and I a personalised tour of the area.

Enjoying the English Countryside

// June 1st, 2009 // 9 Comments » // Photos

I spent the weekend in Blackburn, which is about 300-odd miles north of London. I was there for my cousin’s wedding, on my father’s side, but ended up being person-napped by my cousins on my mother’s side for a outdoor birthday party at a picnic site in the country. As you can tell, I have a lot of family ‘up North’.

The weather was gorgeous, masha’Allah… just perfect for a BBQ.

After lunch, we took a leisurely walk in the woods and fields surrounding the picnic area.

These were the shoes I was wearing during our little Nature walk… not good for wading through patches of mud. Alhamdulillah, I survived, unscathed.

A nice shot I managed to capture from the car on the way home. Click here to see a larger version.

My parents and I used to travel to Blackburn at least once a year, back when we were living in Leicester. However, moving to London added another 150 miles to the car journey. That, together with my studies, meant that in the last ten years we’ve only bothered to drive up there for two important family occasions: deaths & marriages.

Upon leaving the wedding house yesterday evening, we exchanged the usual pleasantries with our hosts, not-so-subtly acknowledging the fact that only another wedding would likely reunite us in the near future.

“Insha’Allah, it’ll be your turn next, Mehzabeen!”, my aunty chirped in Gujarati, as I put on my shoes. Luckily I was looking down at the time, so she didn’t notice the eyes rolling in my head.

Oh well. At least they’ll be the ones making the six hundred mile round-trip next time, if she’s correct.

The Tree of Bling

// May 23rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Photos

I was testing some new AA batteries out on my camera. Their half-life was terrible (a matter of seconds), but I managed to capture this before the camera died.

Saturday Shopping on Green Street

// April 5th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Photos

I decided to be a typical Asian female, and take a walk down Green Street – an East End, ethnic shopping district – on a Saturday afternoon. But unlike most Asian females, I didn’t spend any money whilst I was there. Instead, I took pictures, and enjoyed the the beautiful weather, in the company of my current house guest (who happened to be one of the few, non-Asians on Green Street that day).

Snow Whitechapel

// February 1st, 2009 // 7 Comments » // Photos

I attended a poetry reading in Whitechapel today (that’s in East London, for you non-Brits). It had been snowing on and off all day, but it finally decided to settle as I made my way home. Canadians will not be impressed, but us Londoners so rarely get to see proper snow, it must be blogged about!

Click for full size photo

Men, Takest Thou A Tip From Romeo

// December 24th, 2008 // 13 Comments » // Blog

Did my heart love till now?
Forswear it, sight.
For I ne’er saw true beauty till
this night.

Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare.

Speakest thou such sweet words to thine blushing bride on her wedding night, to win Juliet’s tender heart for all eternity.

Just a suggestion.